Designed to meet a German need for a self-propelled artillery vehicle, the Wespe was in service between 1943 and 1945. The Wespe (or "Wasp") was a light field howitzer 18 on a Panzer II chassis; the Panzer II turret was replaced with a gun shield and a 105mm leFH 18 howitzer. First entering the battlefield on the Eastern Front, Hitler was so impressed with the Wespe that he ordered production of all other Panzer II vehicles halted so that resources could be devoted to building the Wespe. Between 1943 and 1944, 682 Wespes were built, some of which were used as ammunition carriers.